Bertrand Reappointed to National Public Power Council

Don Bertrand, Chairman of Lafayette Public Utilities Authority (LPUA), has been named to a second three-year term on the American Public Power Association's Policy Makers Council by APPA's Board of Directors. APPA is the Washington, D.C.-based national service organization representing the nation's more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities that serve 47 million consumers in 49 states.

Lafayette Utilities System (LUS), including LUS Fiber, has been a long-time member of APPA. LUS and LUS Fiber have a combined annual budget of over $270 million which provides electric, water, waste water, cable television, telephone and internet services in the City of Lafayette.

The Policy Makers Council assists APPA in promoting federal legislation that is important to public power systems, like LUS and LUS Fiber, and opposing harmful legislation. It also provides advice on other issues of importance to APPA. Members of the council meet a minimum of twice a year, and participate in meetings with elected representatives and congressional staff for the purposes of supporting APPA's national legislative agenda.

The Council is made up of 40 members who serve on either utility boards or are elected officials in public power communities.

Bertrand is currently serving his second term as Councilman for District 7, for Lafayette City-Parish Government, of which he previously served as Council Chair. He has also serviced several times as Chairman for Lafayette Public Utilities Authority. Bertrand has long been active in Lafayette-community affairs and in those affairs affecting LUS and LUS Fiber.